IRON RIVER — After a sluggish start, West Iron County turned on the gas and shut out Houghton 34-0 in West-PAC Conference football action Friday.
“They got a little drive going early and kept the ball away from us,” Wykon coach Mike Berutti said. “We stopped them but then we fumbled and gave it right back to them.”
The Wykons were able to overcome the miscue and rolled 84 yards with fullback Ryan Shamion capping the drive off with a six-yard touchdown run.
“It was just a simple center-quarterback exchange, a play that should never happen in high school football,” Berutti said. “But we held them and were able to take it in from there.”
West Iron was able to rack up three scores in the second quarter, with Wyatt Hill running in from nine yards out and tailback Pat Koski hitting paydirt from 34 yards for a 21-0 lead.
“We were getting a good spread on offense and we kept them off-balance,” Berutti said. “Plus we were able to throw the ball. (Kyle) Sabotta’s getting better at the quarterback position every game and the line is blocking extremely well.”
For the remainder of the game, Berutti turned the game over to the second squad and they were able to add third and fourth quarter touchdowns from Wyatt Hill and Cody Jones and the second team defense remained as stoic as the starters.
“Our second teamers saw a lot of action and were able to score and not be scored upon,” Berutti said. “It’s great for the younger guys to get in game action and play very well.”
The Wykons were led by Hill with 73 yards on the ground and Sabotta was 7 of 9 for 91 yards passing for the Wykons (3-2) who travel to Phillips, Wis. Friday for a non-conference game.
“I know that Houghton’s down now and have some injury problems,” Berutti said. “I’ve also seen a lot of good things from our guys in the past few weeks and we’re looking to get even better.
Houghton 0 0 0 0 — 0
West Iron County 0 21 7 6 — 34
Second Quarter
WIC — Shamion 6 run (Jones kick)
WIC — Hill 9 run (Jones kick)
WIC — Koski 34 run (Jones kick)
Third Quarter
WIC — Hill 5 run (Jones kick)
Fourth Quarter
WIC – Jones 3 run (Run failed)
Total Offense — West Iron County 331 (230 rush, 91 pass); Houghton 190 (102, rush 88 pass); First Downs — Houghton 14; WIC 18; Penalties — Houghton 2-20; WIC 4-30.
Individual Statistics
West Iron County — Rushing: Hill 13-73; Koski 4-51; Konoske 4-22; Jones 12-55; Receiving: Shamion 5-50; Safford 1-20; Koski 1-21; Passing: Sabotta 7-9-91-0-0

MILWAUKEE — Kevin Stanek rushed for two touchdowns and 165 yards to power Kingsford past Milwaukee Bradley Tech 22-7 in non-conference football here Friday.
Coach Chris Hofer’s Flivvers (4-1) host Marquette in Great Northern Conference football Friday.
Stanek covered 10 and five yards in the first half to give the Flivvers a 14-0 lead.
Kingsford was driving for another score late in the second quarter when DeAndre Sumner intercepted a pass.
Midway through the third quarter, Bradley closed to 14-7 on a 12-yard Sumner run.
In the fourth quarter, two Flivver efforts stalled at the two and six-yard lines.
However, Kingsford posted a safety from the first stand.
Quarterback Steve Short stepped four yards for the last Flivver touchdown.
Kingsford registered 358 yards total offense to 146 for Bradley. The Flivvers notched 19 first downs to eight for the Trojans, held to one in the first half.
Kingsford’s Daron Erickson recovered a fumble. A Jeremy Phillips pass interception set up the Short score.
Flivver kicker Alex Swartout toed two of three PAT, ending his streak at 18.
Kingsford 7 7 0 8 — 22
#Bradley Tech 0 0 7 0 — 7
First quarter
K — Stanek 10 run (Alex Swartout kick), 6:29.
Second quarter
K — Stanek 5 run (Swartout kick), 5:53.
Third quarter
MT — DeAndre Sumner 12 run (Josh Fleishman kick), 5:58.
Fourth quarter
K — Safety, QB Zach Glembin tackled in end zone, 9:46.
K — Steve Short 4 run (kick failed), 3:27.